Three dimensional cutter and follower machine



Sept. 23, 1958 D. D. DoNoHoo 2,852,984

THREE DIMENSIONAL. CUTTER AND FOLLOWIJR MAINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 18, 1955 [d f i; "I V 85 Fler-2 i l' I x WMI l v |15 453 50 5| N '08,54/ 53 45 4 7 u "47 I| II 1' l e 7 3634 4 55? g |v r29 28 v--.\ 32

,i i l ML 2 3 f 58 i 6 9 l EIS 597m"2 64 l l i l Il W I *1 2 I l 'l V l5 I7 20|3|9 43 8 j l t4 I6 0 INVENTOR.

DAVID D. DONOHOO BY MW a' 7M@ l ATTORNEYS Sept. 23, 1958 D. D. DoNoHoo 2,852,984

THREE DIMENsIoNAL CUTTER AND FoLLowER MAcHmE Filed May 1s, 1955 I 2 sheets-sheet 2 Fl Gr?) V EV INVENTOR.

D DAVID D, DONOHOO ATTORNEYs nitecl States Patent ,Ofllice 2,852,984 Patented Sept. 23, 1958 fritturaD nvinNsrorsiALv 1CUTTER AND FoLLowER MACHINE David D. Donohoo, Centerville, @hin Application Myis, 1955; "sentii No. $09,160 7 claims. (ci. sti-#1311) process. lt is thereforeexpensivetoniake and this eX- pense is reflected in `the molded product.

When tools are to bereproduced, it is practically necessary that each toolV be hand or machine worked, made to order which, again, necessitates a iinished product of considerable expense. i, A y

. Furthermore, in the standard reproduction processes in the engraving art where lline contours are `to be followed and reproduced in various sizes, the tracing points-or tool is caused tol movesidewise in thehorizontal plane to follow the pattern ordevice, such` asa tool to be-reproduced, and the latter remainsstationary. i t

While a machine of thissortis fairly satisfactory, it has definite limitations as to the accuracy withwhich `thepattern can be followed. The starting and stopping points of the tracer on-the surface of the patternor master atool is often ditiicultto determine-and duplicate, 'particularly in the case of small patterns; Moreover, most machines of this character can be usedfor onlyfsmallsuccessive movements of the `tracer so that their range` of `usefulness in duplicating patterns or contours iscextrernelylimited.

The primaryobject of the invention iswtoqprovide a machine for duplicating structures or patternsyand `in which greater accuracy can be obtained thanin` the case of conventional machines. c i

Another object is to provide a pattern-follower or duplicating machine in which wide variationscof size and countour can be accommodated, either in the horistationary in' the horizontal. plane, butthe patterniscaused `to move. The lateraltmovementsof the pattern ormaster `model are `carried throughf'a pantograph-rnechanism to the workpiece: The tracer pointris permitted-'to move in the vertical direction'and these movements are carried through a lever system, with or Without amplification, into corresponding movements of the :cutting ltool.

UHThusgnthe tracerfpoint moves4 only inwone direction, namely vertical, t and the pattern moves only in the. horizontal direction, but-universally in anydirection inthe `horizontal plane;` This separation of `the movement func- 4 desirable in extending( the usefulness of the machine.

tions is highly Other objects andi features will be apparent as the specification is perus'ed in connection-withthe accomvarious sectional lines in Figure 3. w.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine but with one of the bearings at the working tool position being Vshown in section; Vt I- i* 1Figure 2 is a side sectional view of the machine and in which the section is taken `atuapproximately along the Figure 3 represents an end elevational View of the machine; t i y t Figure 4 is a sectional View taken along line 4--4 in Figure 3v and looking in the direction of the arrows; t

`Figure 5 is a verticalfragmentary sectionitaken along 51-5 in Figure 3"; as Vindicated `by the` arrowsywhile` Figure 6 representsfaxperspective viewof the .vertical adjustment mechanism ofthe cutting tool arm; this view,

which isipartly in section,1is taken. at about the position of :u: The views-shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 are somewhat enlarged for clearness over the views obtained in the Referring more particularly to Figs. l and 2, the duplicating machine comprises the following main parts which will be described separately and are indicatedby general `referencecharacters: t .f

-The frame ,casting is indicated at 1; the lower level portion or pattern platformat 2; the `upper level portion vor work platform `atl 3; the tracing point rmechanism at 4;

and a multiplying or pantograph system at 5.

The machine, as a'whole, operates on the principle of' niovingthe-pattern beneath a tracing point or feeler which is kadapted `to lmove only in the `vertical direction andvto translate thismovement into corresponding movements of. the cutting tool. The pattern, or rather the `platform which carries the pattern, is.` also :adapted to move-universally in the horizontal plane directly under the tracing point, andi transfer `thesen'iovements-with or without multiplication to similari movements of the workpiece, or `ratherythe platform carrying the workpiece directly under the cutting tool. i i c ,i

Consequently, the pattern is caused to be felt or examined by the tracing pointin three dimensions, zi. e. length- All of the elements are mounted on a hollow frame 1 of `rectangular configuration, and having alow level portion at 6 and ahigh level portion at 7. The sides of the `frameare constituted ofstraight, downwardly `extending anges 8 to provide rigidity4 and having a curvilinear Lflange 9 atthe rear to accommodate the adjustment `provided at one corner of the frame nearlthe high level Clld.

Pattern platform The frame 1 at the low level portion is provided with a bossed-surface 13 on which rests a hardened steel guide bar 14. This bar is bolted, as indicated at 15, tojthesurface 13 and has along its inner surface a V-shaped notch grooved at the: bottom to. receive ball bearings 16. contained in a retaining strip 17. i y y.

At the other` side of the low level portion, a hardened steel guide bar 18 also` rests on the frame and is: bolted at 19. However, in this case, some looseness is permitted between the screw and the opening in the bar in order-.to accommodate anadjustmentof the bar, as willibe eX- plained hereinafter. The bar 18.has `a V-notch extending along its entire inner surface with a slot at the ,bottom 3 to receive ball bearings contained in a retaining strip 21. The base 1 may be provided with an opening indicated at 22, of a length equivalent to the length of the guide'bars 14, 18 and of a width determined by the distance between the inner surface of these bars.

There is a plate 23 located between the ball bearings 16, 20 and having V-notches along its side edges and also a slot at the bottom to accommodate the remaining half of the ball bearings and the retaining strip. Thus the plate 23 is adapted to move laterally of the frame, i. e. in and out of the plane of the paper.

Secured to the top of the plate 23 in any suitable manner, there is a pair of spaced guide bars 24 but extending in a direction at right angles to the guide bars 14, 18, these guide bars having V-notches and slots to receive ball bearings 25. A plate (not shown) is located between the guide bars 24, similar to the plate 23, but extending longitudinally of the base, this plate having V-notches and slots to receive the inner portions of the ball bearings 25 and their retaining plates.

Thus, this last mentioned plate is adapted to move lengthwise of the base because it is carried on the ball bearings 25 and is also adapted to move in the lateral direction because it is carried on the plate 23 which, in turn, moves laterally on the balls 16, 20 and obviously this plate can move in any composite direction. Thus, the plate has universal movement in the horizontal plane.

Secured to the plate contained between the bars 24 there is a plate 26 and directly above there is a second pair of spaced bars 27 secured in any suitable manner to the plate 26. A plate 28 of rectangular configuration rests on the bars 27 and is secured thereto so as to leave a rectangular space under the plate for loosely accommodating an arm 29. This arm which forms part of a pantograph lever system, which will be described presently, terminates in a ball bearing member, indicated generally at 30, contained in the space between the lower surface of the plate 28 and the upper surface of the plate 26, the shaft 31 for the bearing being driven or otherwise secured in the plate 26. Thus, the arm 29 is adapted to swing on its bearing 30 within the slot-like compartment formed between the plates 28, 26.

f A metal arm 32 projects rearwardly from the space between the bars 27 and is screwed to the plate 26 as indicated at 33. The hand knob 34 is attached to the outer end of this bar and its purpose is to move the entire system of plate 28, bars 277 plate 26, and the plate contained between the guide bars 24, in any horizontal direction by reason of the ball bearings 25, 16, as explained hereinbefore. The plate 28 is provided along its inner end with an upstanding flange 35, also a bar 36 with slotted openings 37, the bar being secured to the plate 28 by means of screws 38, the Shanks of which pass through the slots 37.

Thus, the bar 36 is adapted to be adjusted in the ydirection of the slots and thus move the pattern or sample which rests on the plate 28 in a corresponding manner when and if the pattern abuts the bar 36. Along one side edge of the plate 28 there is another bar 39 at right angles to the flange and the bar 36, and this bar 39 is screwed to the plate 28, as indicated at 40.

A tracer point or feeler 41, carried by an arm 42, is suspended over the plate 28, this tracer point being adapted to move only in the vertical direction, as will also be explained hereinafter. Thus, any pattern, model, or engraving contour that it is desired to duplicate can be placed on the platform 28 directly under the feeler 4i and, by manipulating the knob 34, all parts of the pattern or contoured member is felt by the tracer point 41. In doing this, the latter is caused to move upwardly or downwardly, depending on the various heights of the contours and, in addition, the plate 28 is caused to move in various directions in the horizontal plane.

Inorder to prevent over-run of the moving platform 28 and to apply a certain amount of friction, pressure may be applied to the guide bars 24, 18 to cause a slight pinching of the movable plate which is carried on the two sets of ball bearings. One such adjustment is shown in Fig. 2 in which the base is provided with a ridge 43 which has one or more screws 44 passing through it and these screws abut the outer surfaces of one guide bar of each set. Thus, by tightening the screws 44, the guide bar 18 is forced slightly to the left because the bolts 19 are loosely [tted and this inward pressure is exerted through the ball bearings 20 onto the plate 23 to provide slight friction at the rolling surfaces.

Upper level platform The platform indicated at 3 is for the purpose of carrying the workpiece or tool to be duplicated either to the same or to a different size from the original which is located on the plate 28. The base 1 at the left-hand end of Figs. 1 and 2, is provided with a pair of guide bars 45, bolted or otherwise secured as indicated at 46, 47, to the base. The opening in the guide bar for the bolt 46 is slightly larger than the bolt in order to allow adjustment to the left-hand guide bar. This adjustment may be provided by a ridge 48 extending upwardly from the base and through which one or more screws 49 project which bear against the left-hand guide bar. Thus, by tightening the screws 49, this guide bar can be caused to move slightly to the right, notwithstanding the presence of the bolts 46.

The guide bars 45 have V-shaped notches with slots, similar to those described in connection with guide bars 14, 18, for carrying ball bearings 50 contained within retainer strips 51. A plate 52 with corresponding V- shaped notches and a slot at the bottom is suspended on the ball bearings Si) and, as shown in Fig. 2, is therefore adapted to move into and out of the plane of the paper.

Attached to the plate 52 there is a pair of spa-ced guide bars 53 having V-notches and slots along the inner edges (not shown) for receiving ball bearings S4. A plate is suspended between these two sets of ball bearings, this plate having corresponding V-notches and slots to receive the ball bearings and their retaining strips. A work-table.

or platform 3 is secured to this plate and it is obvious that the arrangement is such that the platform 3 can move in the lateral direction, i. e. into and out of the plane of the paper on account of the ball bearings 50, and can move longitudinally of the base on account of the ball bearings 54. Thus, the platform can be moved universally in the horizontal plane, i. e. in all directions.

The mechanism which is about to be described is for the purpose of co-relating the movements of the working tool platform 3 to the pattern or contour device platform indicated at 2.

Panrograph system This mechanism, as generally indicated at 5, is cornprised of a series of links pivoted together, of which one link 29 has been referred to hereinbefore. One end of the aim 29 is carried on the ball bearing 30, and at the other end there is a ball bearing, not shown in detail but indicated at 54', which is supported on a shaft (not shown) secured to the underside of the base at the high platform end. A link arm 55 is also provided with a ball bearing at the position 54 on the same shaft as the bearing of the arm 29, and at its-other end, the arm is carried on a ball bearing 56 mounted on a shaft S7.

This shaft has a second ball bearing 58 carrying a link arm 59 which terminates at a ball bearing indicated at 60. The shaft for the last mentioned ball bearing has a second ball bearing (not shown) which carries a link arm 61 that passes under the arm 29 and terminates in a ball bearing indicated at 62, the shaft of which is secured to the arm 29. Thus, at each of the positions 62, 54', 58 and 60 there are ball bearings similar to the type described in connection with the shaft 57 and the bearings 56, 58, s o that any movement of the arm 29 by reason of a shift s in position of the platform 2 will cause corresponding movements of the VarmsM29, 55,59 and,`61 about `their respective bearings.

The connection between the pantograph mechanism and the plate 3 is made at the arm 61. This arm, atthe position 63 (Fig. l), contains a ball bearing through which projects a shaft 64 andthis shaft is carried ona stud 65 which passes through a large opening' 66 inthe plate 52 and is attached to the plate 3. l Consequently, any movement of the plate 2 in any 011e of the horizontal directions, or any combination of directions, is transferred accurately in any and all such directions to the plate 3 on which the workpiece is located. V

T he elevating mechanisms for the tracer point and cor responding movements ofthe' working tool This mechanism is indicated generally, at 4. When the pattern shows recesses or projections, contours of different heights, it becomes necessary to be able to raise or lower the tracing point `or feeler so as to follow the recesses, projections or other'contours and to transfer these vertical movements of the tracing point or feeler to corresponding movements inthe vertical direction of the cutting tool. It may alsobe desirableA to provide any multiplying factor of these vertical 'movements soithat they can either be increased or decreased iri accordance with any increase or decrease ofthe relative' movements between the plates 2 `and 3 brought about 'by ia particular pantograph system including length of"levers`, etc.

The feeler or tracer point 41 carried on a bent arm 42 which extends lengthwise of the base and'isfp'ivoted at a position intermediate of its length, `theen'd oppositeffrom the tracing element being prcravic'lediwithi'al` balancing weight 67, as seen in Fig. 1l

At one or more intermediate positions indicated at 68,

69, twopivots are'provided, of onlyonepivot is operative at any one time to"give any desired Vamplifying actor'to the movements of the arm 42'fwith respect to the nal movements of the cutting tool in the vertical direction. These pivot points areindicated`generallyatr70 in Fig. 4 and comprise, at each of the positions 68, `6`9,`a plug 71 of case-hardened steel passing through the edge `ofthe arm, with a V-shaped countersunkop'eningfllz at the ends of each plug for receiving a setlscrevv73v which is lcontained in a lug 79 securedto the upper surface of the ibase at the high level position'.AAltwilli'befunderstood that there are two pairs of 'iipstanding lugsv79, one pair at each position `68, 69," with 4one Vliigof ech'pair'posb tioned on each sideofarrr1`42.` i'

It is apparent that if it 4were desired to swing the arm 42 about the position 68 as afpivot, it is merely necessary to turn the screws 73 into thecounter'sunkopenings'to form pivot pins about which the arm can rock.; Inf` the multiplying factor is such thatthe position 169 is desired as the pivot point, the screws 73 areywitlidrawn'ifrorn-the e pivot position 68 and correspondingserews"'are caused to press inwardly against `the coun'ters'u'nkY openings in the arm at the position 69. Any numberof these pivot bearings may be provided alongAth'elarinv 42 'to allow any desired relative movement between Athe motionsnf `the tracer point and the forming toolf "If desired, a single but slidable pivot mechanism, adjustable "aA groove (not shown), may also be employed in. place ofnthe `two or more separately used pivots(v There is a metal lug 74 extending away from the arm: 42 but positioned above the arm, as seen in Fig. L This `lug has an opening for receiving `a rod 76 with aslot leading to the opening in order that abolt 78, passinglbetween the legs of the strip, can serve totighten the rodwithin the strip. The rod 76 extends upwardly and^passes through a bushed opening 77 in a yoked member 179 which is normally stationary.` `The rod projAectsL-siightly'above p the member as indicated at 80.`V

A support member is provided between the lug 'Hand the arm 42 so that as the raised or lowered `Uvvlriile annesse 30 from falling below the horizontal position.

the tracer point is feeling the pattern, the rod 76 is given a corresponding movement in the vertical direction. Ihis supporf ineinber is' shown in Fig. 5 and comprises a casehardened pin '81 driven Ior screwed into the lug 74. A-

5 case-hardened plug 82 is driven or screwed into the arm 42 directly below the pin. i The plug has a V-shaped recess 83 inwhieh the pin sets. Thus, as the arm 42 moves upwardly, the lug is caused to raise and carry the rod 76 with it.

vDirectly above the projecting portion 80 of the rod 76 there is a rod 84 which extend downwardly and is secured to a heavy bar 85 This rod may be threaded and held at the proper distance, i. e. so that the lower end willcontact `the` projecting end 80, by means of a nut 86.

fThe member 7 9' terminates in a U-shaped. or yoke portion on the ball Abearings 88 of the end portion 87 o'f the yoke `me`mber. l The bar 85 is provided with a ldownwardly extending portion 90 beyond the bearings and a reinforcing rib `91 extends diagonally upward from the portion 90 to Vthe main portion 85 of the bar.

5 In 'order to provide the necessary clearance for the `rib where it extendsbetween the legs of the yoke member a'p'rtion of the member is beveled at 92 so as to clear the rib whenthe bar 8S is in a horizontal position. The beveled surface at 92 and the rib 91 prevents the arm 85 A motor 93 can `be `attached to the bar portion 90, the motor being provided with a pulley 94. A belt 95 extends about a pulley 96 to drive the cuttngtool 97.`r This tool, as seen in Fig. 2, is carried on `a ball bearing 98 through a bushing 99. The tool itself is constituted of a rod 97 which may be pressed or screwed intothe bushing and is beveled and fluted to a cutting point at thelworking end. The ball bearings are contained in a 4 cup 100 having a screw-threaded cap 101, this cup formingV the terminal portion of the bar 85.

Thus,` as the motor 93 is energized, the belt 95 drives theworkingor cutting tool 97 and the latter is caused to 4move upwardly or downwardly by the presence of the "swinging action of the bar 85 at the pins 89 in response to corresponding vertical movements of thero`d 76 which,

iir turn, responds t-o the vertical motion of the arm42.

` In order vto assure a gentle pressure being exercised downwardly on the bar 85 and thereby provide greater accuracy lwith which this bar follows the movements ,of

thearm 42,`I may provide a compression spring 103 which is set in a countersunk` depression 104 in the'bar 85 andvis heldin place by means of a bolt 105' which is Vthreaded intotheyoke member 79. yThere is an` opening in the bar 85 which looselyreceives the shank ofthe bolt so that when the bar is caused to move upwardly at theu'rge off the rod 76, the spring 103 is compressed against the head 106 of the boltwhich exercises acon- -tinuous downward pressure on the bar. Whena workpiece is placed on the platform 3 and is of greater than normal height so that the machine is set foiampliticationfof the movement at the tracing point, it may be found that the vcutting, tool 97 is so close to the platform that thefiworkpiece cannot be accommodated. `It is ltherefore necessary temporarily to raise the cutting tool," and that `is accomplished in the manner which 'will now be described.

The yoke member 79' is provided with a downwardly extending circular boss 107 at that position whichdoes not form part of the yoke'portion and there isa circular support108 secured to the boss 107, this support extending through `anopening in the `top of t'he'base member, as shown `in Fig. 3. It is held in position with respect to the base member by means of a clampfcollar' 109, split atits periphery. There is a screw `110 which serves te. clamp the support at any position with respect to the base member. This cellar 109 may be secured to the base-member as shown in Fig. 3. The support 108 is provided with teeth 165, similar to a rack, as seen more readily in Fig. 6.

The base meinbervl is provided with a downwardly extending integral web 111 and there is a pair of aligned openings in this web member and in the outer end portion of the base. A shaft 112 extends through this opening carrying a pinion 113. A hand wheel 114 is keyed to the shaft. Thus, by loosening the screws litt and 76, the entire upper structure of the machine, including the motor, can be raised as a body by turning the wheel 114.

It will be noted that the rod 76 projects for a distance through an opening in the base member so that if the support 108 is raised at the rack, the rod 76 will also slide with respect to the lug 74 and that portion of the rod which is contained within the base member now serves as an additional length of rod. When the working tool 97 has been moved upwardly the proper distance to clear the workpiece, the screws 110, 7S are then tightened. lt is apparent that the support 10S serves to carry the entire weight of the motor, the bar 85 and the yoke member 79', so that little or no support in the vertical direction is taken by the rod 76 whose function solely is to temporarily raise and lower the bar 86 in sympathy with the up and down movements of the arm 42.

ln order securely to fasten the workpiece to the table 3, the latter may be provided with a number of equally spaced tapped openings 115 to receive clamping bolts so that the table can accommodate any practical size of workpiece and held securely in position While work is being performed at the tool 97. It is obvious that this tool which may be constituted of carboloy steel, can be replaced from time to time by simply removing the rod 97 and replacing it with a new rod having a new tool end.

From the foregoing, it is evident that I have disclosed a machine in which the horizontal movements of the pattern -or contour device which might be of metal, wood, plaster of Paris or plastic, are duplicated in any desired proportion or size depending on the lengths and relative positions of the arms 55, 59 and 6l, of the pantograph 5.

As this workpiece is moved under the tool 97 which is stationary in the horizontal plane, the tool will cut the same horizontal outline as the pattern. ln addition, the tool is given a vertical movement in any ratio desired with respect to the movement of the forming tool, depending on the position of the pivot members 68, 69, so that the machine as a whole causes the tool to cut the workpiece in the same or corresponding duplication of the pattern in bot-h the vertical and horizontal directions.

Steel engravings can readily and accurately be made in a machine of this so-rt because the size of the plate 2 and the movements of the plate in the horizontal direction can be accurately gauged with respect to the tracer ing movements of the work plate 3.` The starting and stopping points in the movement of the platform or plate 2 about the tracer point can also be readily and accurately controlled. This is of particular advantage where an engraving is large and complicated in design which would require some discontinuity of operation.

It will be understood that various modifications and arrangements in structure could be made without depart` ing from the spirit of my invention and, accordingly, l desire to comprehend such modifications and substitutions of equivalents as may be considered to come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what l claim as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A machine for copying patterns, comprising a pattern platform adapted to receive the pattern, a work platform adapted to receive the workpiece whichis to be worked to the shape of the pattern, means for supporting said platforms for separate movement, said platpoint 41 and this accuracy is reflected in the correspondforms being movable only in the horizontal direction, a tracer point stationary in the horizontal direction but movable in the vertical direction positioned over the pattern platform, a forming tool stationary in the horizontal direction but movable in the vertical direction positioned over the work platform, means including a lever connection between said platforms for constraining the work platform to move in the same horizontal direction as the movement of the pattern platform when the latter is moved to bring all parts of the surface of the pattern successively under the tracer point, means including a lever connection for causing the forming tool to move in the vertical direction only in accordance with vertical movements given to the tracer point by the pattern as the latter is moved under the tracer point, whereby the vertical and horizontal contours of the pattern are copied as corresponding vertical and horizontal contours of the workpiece by the vertical movements of the forming tool and tracer point and the horizontal movements or' the work and pattern platforms so that the shape of the pattern is copied into the shape of the workpiece in three dimensions by the combined use of the horizontally movable platforms and the vertical movable 'forming tool and tracer point.

2. A machine for copying patterns, comprising a pattern platform adapted to receive the pattern, a work platform adapted to receive the workpiece which is to be worked to the shape of the pattern, means for supporting said platforms for separate movement, said platforms being movable only in the horizontal direction; a tracer point stationary in the horizontal direction but movable in the vertical direction and positioned over the pattern platform, said tracer point being carried by a r pivoted lever, a lifting rod on said lever, a forming tool stationary in the horizontal direction but movable in the vertical direction positioned over the work platform, means including a lever connection between said platforms for constraining the work platform to move in the same horizontal direction as the movement of the pattern platformwhen the latter is moved to bring all parts of the surface of the pattern successively under the tracer point, and means including a pivoted lever operated through said lifting rod for moving the tracer point and forming tool in synchronism with one another in the vertical direction.

3. A machine for copying patterns, comprising a pattern platform adapted to receive the pattern, a work platform adapted to receive the workpiece which is to be worked to the shape of the pattern, means for supporting said platforms for separate movement, said platforms being movable only in the horizontal direction, a tracer point stationary in the horizontal direction but movable in the vertical direction positioned over the pattern platform, said tracing point being carried on a pivoted lever, a lifting rod on said lever, a forming tool stationary in the horizontal direction but movable in the vertical direction positioned over the work platform, means including a lever connection between said platforms for constraining the work platform to move in the same horizontal direction as the movement of the pattern platform when the latter is moved to bring all parts of the surface of the pattern successively under the tracing point, and means including a pivoted lever operated through said lifting rod for moving the tracer point and forming tool in synchronism with one another in a vertical direction, the pivot of said first mentioned lever being adjustable along the length thereof to provide any desired proportional movement of the forming tool with respect to the vertical movement of the tracer point.

4. A machine for copying patterns, comprising a pattern platform adapted to receive the pattern, a work platform to receive the workpiece which is to be worked to the shape of the pattern, means for supporting said platforms for separate movement, said platforms being movable only in the horizontal direction, a tracer point stationary in the horizontal direction but movable in the vertical direction positioned over the pattern platform, a forming tool stationary in the horizontal direction but movable in the vertical direction positioned over the work platform, means including a lever connection between said platforms for constraining the work platform to move in the same horizontal direction as the movement of the pattern platform when the latter is moved to bring all parts of the surface of the pattern successively under the tracer point, means including a lever connection for causing the forming tool to move in the vertical direction only in accordance with the vertical movements given to the tracer point by the pattern as the latter is moved under the tracer point, means for adjusting and controlling vertical movements of the forming tool in relation to the vertical movements of the tracing point as the pattern is moved to bring all parts thereof under the tracer point.

5. A machine for copying patterns, comprising a pattern platform adapted to receive the pattern, a work platform to receive the workpiece which is to be worked to the shape of the pattern, means for supporting said platforms for separate movement, said platforms being movable only in the horizontal direction, a tracer point sta tionary in the horizontal direction but movable in the vertical direction positioned over the pattern platform, a forming tool stationary in the horizontal direction but movable in the vertical direction positioned over the work platform, means including a lever connection between said platforms for constraining the work platform to move in the same horizontal direction as the movement of the pattern platform when the latter is moved to bring all parts of the surface of the pattern successively under the tracer point, means including a lever connection for causing the forming tool to move in the vertical direction only in accordance with the vertical movements given to the tracer point by the pattern as the latter is moved under the tracer point, means for adjusting and controlling vertical movements of the forming tool in relation to the vertical movements of the tracing point as the pattern is moved to bring all parts thereof under the tracer point, said last mentioned means including a pivoted lever which carries the tracing point and is mechanically connected to the forming tool, the pivot of said pivoted lever being adjustable along the length of the lever in order to regulate the amount of movement of the forming tool in response to the vertical movements of the tracer point as the pattern and its platform are moved under the tracer point.

6. A machine for copying patterns, comprising a pattern platform adapted to receive the pattern, a work platform adapted to receive the workpiece which is to be worked to the shape of the pattern, means for supporting said platforms for separate movement, said platforms being movable -only in the horizontal direction, a tracer point stationary in the horizontal direction but movable in the vertical direction positioned over the pattern platform, a forming tool stationary in the horizontal direction but movable in the vertical direction positioned over the work platform, said tracer point being carried on a pivoted lever and said forming tool being carried on a separate pivoted lever, and means for controlling the relative motion between said pivoted levers in response to the vertical movements of the tracer point when the pattern and its platform are moved under the tracer point whereby the movement of the forming tool is correspondingly controlled, means including a lever connected between said platforms for constraining the work platform to move in the same horizontal direction as the movement of the pattern platform when the latter is moved to bring all parts of the surface of the pattern successively under the tracer point, and means for adjusting the position of the pivot along the pivoted lever which carries the tracer point whereby the distances through which the lever that carries the forming tool moves when actuated by the vertical movements of the tracer point are controlled.

7. A machine for copying patterns, comprising a pattern platform adapted to receive the pattern, a work platform adapted to receive the workpiece which is to be worked tothe shape of the pattern, each of said platforms being lmounted for movements in all directions in a horizontal plane, but in different planes, said means including two sets of ball bearings for each platform, a tracer point stationary in the horizontal direction but movable in the vertical direction positioned over the pattern platform, a forming tool stationary in the horizontal direction but movable in the vertical direction positioned over the work platform, means including a pantograph connected between the platforms for constraining the work platform to move in the same horizontal direction as the movement of the pattern platform notwithstanding the different planar position of the two platforms when the pattern platform is moved to bring all parts of the surface of the pattern successively under the tracer point, means including a lever connection for causing the forming tool to move in the vertical direction only in accordance with the vertical movements given to the tracer point by the pattern as the latter is moved under the tracer point, whereby the vertical and horizontal contours of the pattern are copied as corresponding vertical Iand horizontal contours of the workpiece by the vertical movements of the tool and tracer point and the horizontal movements of the work and patltern platforms, and means for adjusting the average height of the forming tool above the work platform, above and below which height the forming tool is caused to move in response to the vertical movement of the tracer point.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,313,543 Keller Aug. 19, 1919 1,669,900 Keller May 15, 1928 2,005,696 Gorton et al. June 18, 1935 2,488,088 Marchant et al. Nov. l5, 1949 2,651,889 Hannum Sept. 15, 1953 

